Should admissions be more transparent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why?

Because our tax money goes there?

[Anonymous]

I don't think the world needs more stats from colleges.

But it would help if parents had greater understanding of the process, and the uphill odds applicants face with highly rejective colleges. The colleges don't want to tell you that the odds are even more awful than perceived, because then folks won't apply and spend the $75.

You see a college with 5% acceptance rate and think you have a 95% chance of rejection. But it is really higher than 95% chance of rejection. First, you have to get through the academic screening. Then you have to be unique and stand out from the other 20 applicants from your competitive DMV high school. And finally, you have to be the exact individual they think will be a good fit based on how they view their university in the greater world, and who else is applying that year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What students (and parents) want to know - before they apply - is what factors are considered and how they are weighted. Nobody feels like they have a complete and accurate picture of this. The term "holistic" seems like a fudge factor that is used to conceal actual admissions priorities that (in many cases) the public would find objectionable. The public wants to know, and deserves to know, the full truth about how the sausage is made.

The term "holistic" was invented in order to suppress Jews.

Tax payers have the right to demand better transparency and fairness.

[Anonymous]

No. This is dumb. It takes admissions teams long enough to release decisions. "Why didn't I get accepted" You weren't good enough that year. You will apply to jobs in the future that ghost you and don't even tell you that you've been rejected. Welcome to the real world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I remember about 10 years ago there was a big kerfluffle when UC students found out they could see their application file. Universities fought this in court but lost due to Ferpa. In subsequent years universities stopped keeping the notes.

A bunch of kids reported being shocked and relieved they got in because the readers misrepresented their GPA, labeled top things average etc. many also noticed the time stamps. 8 minutes on the first reader, 2 minutes on the second etc. The lack of time spent on the application was eye opening as well as the errors. These were kids that were accepted.

It made me wonder whether the UCs care at all and that the whole holistic review is performative theater. The UCs only cares that an admit meets a bar that will graduate, sprinkle in a few shining stars and the rest is solely demographic , financial and geographic.

8 minutes is an average timespan for reviewing an admissions file. 2 minutes could be completely fine if there's certain things they need to look at (e.g. a gap in coursework). They get 100,000 applications, they can't spend an infinite amount of time reviewing the file.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. This is dumb. It takes admissions teams long enough to release decisions. "Why didn't I get accepted" You weren't good enough that year. You will apply to jobs in the future that ghost you and don't even tell you that you've been rejected. Welcome to the real world.

Our tax doesn't go to the Jobs but go to the schools.
Huge difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. This is dumb. It takes admissions teams long enough to release decisions. "Why didn't I get accepted" You weren't good enough that year. You will apply to jobs in the future that ghost you and don't even tell you that you've been rejected. Welcome to the real world.

Our tax doesn't go to the Jobs but go to the schools.
Huge difference.

Your money doesn't go to the billions we give out in subsidies to corporations every year? Right...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a question for the OP. I can tell why this kid didn't get into the schools he/she wanted. Can you?

https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/1jks4bh/the_college_admission_process_is_so_unfair/

How about this kid? This is the AI start up kid who was in the news for all his rejections. I too was surprised until I read his personal statement and then it totally made sense.

https://x.com/zach_yadegari/status/1906888487292559531?s=46&t=z1v7bHHAEs1ipTUHXBOyQA

Honest question what is wrong with his statement? He’s 17. He’s writing about why he changed his mind about wanting to go to college. He’s talking about self reflection, self learning and interacting with different types of people.

he didn't talk about the WHY! Why are you interested in something is more important than the What or the How. That's the whole point of the personal essay. A good personal essay: Tells a story - who are you? What matters to you? What do you notice?

I’m a professional writer. His essay was well written. I’m not sure whether AI played a role. Sure, it may not have folllowed some widely accepted rubrics of what to include. The main problem was that it showed that he is an arrogant, entitled douchebag. Would you want this kid to be your roommate? Still

[Anonymous]

Schools should be more transparent about admissions because they are facing a crisis of confidence. They might have to change their admissions process to make transparency more viable, but the current path has them bleeding good will and credibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember about 10 years ago there was a big kerfluffle when UC students found out they could see their application file. Universities fought this in court but lost due to Ferpa. In subsequent years universities stopped keeping the notes.

A bunch of kids reported being shocked and relieved they got in because the readers misrepresented their GPA, labeled top things average etc. many also noticed the time stamps. 8 minutes on the first reader, 2 minutes on the second etc. The lack of time spent on the application was eye opening as well as the errors. These were kids that were accepted.

It made me wonder whether the UCs care at all and that the whole holistic review is performative theater. The UCs only cares that an admit meets a bar that will graduate, sprinkle in a few shining stars and the rest is solely demographic , financial and geographic.

8 minutes is an average timespan for reviewing an admissions file. 2 minutes could be completely fine if there's certain things they need to look at (e.g. a gap in coursework). They get 100,000 applications, they can't spend an infinite amount of time reviewing the file.

They have algorithms and point systems that is also shown in the Harvard case.
As you said they get 50K-100K apps, there's no other way.
Tax paying public should have the information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember about 10 years ago there was a big kerfluffle when UC students found out they could see their application file. Universities fought this in court but lost due to Ferpa. In subsequent years universities stopped keeping the notes.

A bunch of kids reported being shocked and relieved they got in because the readers misrepresented their GPA, labeled top things average etc. many also noticed the time stamps. 8 minutes on the first reader, 2 minutes on the second etc. The lack of time spent on the application was eye opening as well as the errors. These were kids that were accepted.

It made me wonder whether the UCs care at all and that the whole holistic review is performative theater. The UCs only cares that an admit meets a bar that will graduate, sprinkle in a few shining stars and the rest is solely demographic , financial and geographic.

8 minutes is an average timespan for reviewing an admissions file. 2 minutes could be completely fine if there's certain things they need to look at (e.g. a gap in coursework). They get 100,000 applications, they can't spend an infinite amount of time reviewing the file.

They have algorithms and point systems that is also shown in the Harvard case.
As you said they get 50K-100K apps, there's no other way.
Tax paying public should have the information.

Maybe the tax paying public should bug off. They're currently stripping funding from a lot of these institutions and making life in academia miserable, because they want to fund their culture projects on the southern border. Maybe universities should start monetizing their healthcare and community services. Good luck with your next disease when the universities decide to charge you up the a$$ for using their services.

The American public is filled with absolute idiots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember about 10 years ago there was a big kerfluffle when UC students found out they could see their application file. Universities fought this in court but lost due to Ferpa. In subsequent years universities stopped keeping the notes.

A bunch of kids reported being shocked and relieved they got in because the readers misrepresented their GPA, labeled top things average etc. many also noticed the time stamps. 8 minutes on the first reader, 2 minutes on the second etc. The lack of time spent on the application was eye opening as well as the errors. These were kids that were accepted.

It made me wonder whether the UCs care at all and that the whole holistic review is performative theater. The UCs only cares that an admit meets a bar that will graduate, sprinkle in a few shining stars and the rest is solely demographic , financial and geographic.

8 minutes is an average timespan for reviewing an admissions file. 2 minutes could be completely fine if there's certain things they need to look at (e.g. a gap in coursework). They get 100,000 applications, they can't spend an infinite amount of time reviewing the file.

They have algorithms and point systems that is also shown in the Harvard case.
As you said they get 50K-100K apps, there's no other way.
Tax paying public should have the information.

Maybe the tax paying public should bug off. They're currently stripping funding from a lot of these institutions and making life in academia miserable, because they want to fund their culture projects on the southern border. Maybe universities should start monetizing their healthcare and community services. Good luck with your next disease when the universities decide to charge you up the a$$ for using their services.

The American public is filled with absolute idiots.

+1, a generation of selfish brats. Your tax dollars hardly go to universities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember about 10 years ago there was a big kerfluffle when UC students found out they could see their application file. Universities fought this in court but lost due to Ferpa. In subsequent years universities stopped keeping the notes.

A bunch of kids reported being shocked and relieved they got in because the readers misrepresented their GPA, labeled top things average etc. many also noticed the time stamps. 8 minutes on the first reader, 2 minutes on the second etc. The lack of time spent on the application was eye opening as well as the errors. These were kids that were accepted.

It made me wonder whether the UCs care at all and that the whole holistic review is performative theater. The UCs only cares that an admit meets a bar that will graduate, sprinkle in a few shining stars and the rest is solely demographic , financial and geographic.

8 minutes is an average timespan for reviewing an admissions file. 2 minutes could be completely fine if there's certain things they need to look at (e.g. a gap in coursework). They get 100,000 applications, they can't spend an infinite amount of time reviewing the file.

They have algorithms and point systems that is also shown in the Harvard case.
As you said they get 50K-100K apps, there's no other way.
Tax paying public should have the information.

Maybe the tax paying public should bug off. They're currently stripping funding from a lot of these institutions and making life in academia miserable, because they want to fund their culture projects on the southern border. Maybe universities should start monetizing their healthcare and community services. Good luck with your next disease when the universities decide to charge you up the a$$ for using their services.

The American public is filled with absolute idiots.

WTF college admission should be secrecy.
There are 3000+ 4 year colleges in the US.
Fund can go to the good schools.

If you you choose to keep your secrecy, then do that with your own funding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember about 10 years ago there was a big kerfluffle when UC students found out they could see their application file. Universities fought this in court but lost due to Ferpa. In subsequent years universities stopped keeping the notes.

A bunch of kids reported being shocked and relieved they got in because the readers misrepresented their GPA, labeled top things average etc. many also noticed the time stamps. 8 minutes on the first reader, 2 minutes on the second etc. The lack of time spent on the application was eye opening as well as the errors. These were kids that were accepted.

It made me wonder whether the UCs care at all and that the whole holistic review is performative theater. The UCs only cares that an admit meets a bar that will graduate, sprinkle in a few shining stars and the rest is solely demographic , financial and geographic.

8 minutes is an average timespan for reviewing an admissions file. 2 minutes could be completely fine if there's certain things they need to look at (e.g. a gap in coursework). They get 100,000 applications, they can't spend an infinite amount of time reviewing the file.

They have algorithms and point systems that is also shown in the Harvard case.
As you said they get 50K-100K apps, there's no other way.
Tax paying public should have the information.

Maybe the tax paying public should bug off. They're currently stripping funding from a lot of these institutions and making life in academia miserable, because they want to fund their culture projects on the southern border. Maybe universities should start monetizing their healthcare and community services. Good luck with your next disease when the universities decide to charge you up the a$$ for using their services.

The American public is filled with absolute idiots.

WTF college admission should be secrecy.
There are 3000+ 4 year colleges in the US.
Fund can go to the good schools.

If you you choose to keep your secrecy, then do that with your own funding.

We should deport you idiots.

[Anonymous]

We parents (including myself) are the ones who choose to play the selective admissions game. Most people do not play this game and are perfectly content with nearby regional state universities that get the job done and graduate employable young people. Maybe we all need to stop playing the game. My kid is at a selective U but I often wonder if they would have been just as well off attending a nearby regional university.